I don’t understand their reasoning as a busy weekend due horse racing festival time and people want to travel being a warmer weather at the time….
The train replacing it was a 3 car velocity DMU terminating Bendigo and buses to Swan Hill!
They say it was due to ‘Train fault” but sound like shortage of staff as I observed were 2 N sets in Melbourne stabled in Melb yard yesterday with one N set stabled at Geelong yard and and another Warrnambool yard and on arriving at the station I noticed not much activity in the yard today I am wondering was is there some sort ground crew shortage today?
There were few N sets scattered around the place yesterday for some odd reason beforehand yesterday when I shuffling around on FN9 a late returning Warrnambool service so there seems be no shortage of sets for substitute in this occasion….
I have recently written an article on the Management Team at V/Line highlighting to some respects their individual backgrounds and experience to run an essential service to the travelling public.
I also remind readers of recent articles at Vibewire on the lack of suitability of Vlocity trains running on longer distance services, even 2.5 hours is a stretch on these older designed trains.
The Riding Conditions on board the Velocities
I will say it was terribly cramped on board and passengers who are taller and broader in stature may have problems with tightly spaced seating areas!!!
People were standing in vestibule area which only goes to Bendigo I then got off at Kyneton I quickly noticed it was very crowded past Kyneton station from the and the riding conditions this not the sort of train passengers would want tolerate all the way to Swan Hill no buffet and very cramped riding conditions!!!
Plus extremely relentless loud overwhelming roar of the traction engines roaring away and squealing whist doing braking applications throughout the whole 4+ hour with to coach transfers after getting off shortly after!
Something that might be not very pleasant for some passengers to put up for nearly 5 hrs on board to Swan Hill compared the older train, a fluctuating clattering of the train rolling to odd roar of the loco notching up the grades and honking it horn at crossing etc.
Date:27/10/2024
Made plans to catch the Up Swan Hill ex 06:54 back to Southern Cross Station…
Only to discover that Warrnambool line is having problems too currently!!!
No good there goes my alternative ride for the day as shifted from 3B where VN14 was meant make the 13:00 Warrnambool down to 5A where the Velocities 3X1 took the place of what was meant the Warrnambool 13:00The 12:23 Warrnambool – Southern Cross service will terminate at Camperdown and no longer run to Southern Cross due to a track fault.
More information at vline.com.au
What a dog’s breakfast!
No good for those passengers or the frontline dealing with the knock on effect!
To think horse racing carnivals are on this period oh dear!
Seem odd when I seem to observe odd amount N set sitting all over the place the day before!
It doesn’t seem right, it doesn’t add up…..
Is it this odd events a beginning of something?
Unquote from V/line Bendigo X account: Good morning, the 07:40 will depart Southern Cross at 07:40 then terminate at Bendigo and then coaches will replace the train to Swan Hill. The 06:54 will depart at 06:54 and is a train service all the way to Southern Cross.
- I noticed FN9 Making up the Warrnambool down for 06:55 the same set that made my train Saturday afternoon from Swan Hill to Warrnambool beforehand
- When I returned Geelong Yard from Waurn Ponds on the day before I saw VN10 all lit up just after 20:00 h from FN9 and saw VN17 shuffle past doing 19:00 Warrnambool service last train for the day!
- Day before the Swan Hill up FN9 arrived to make 13:00 Warrnambool 4B before next me on platform 3 VN 17 arrives in loaded with passengers which went back to the Melb Yard.
- Arrive Geelong major stop on Warrnambool down 13:00 to see VN6 pulling out loaded with passenger ex 06:55 Warrnambool toward Melb.
- Pull in Warrnambool Yard to see VN3 stabled there with a locomotive.
It was 05:38 this morning when I was alerted via v/line :07:40 Swan Hill it was not operating a decided to confirm with it them
What a Dog’s Breakfast of a Day, No good for anyone and myself included!
It was very busy people with lot of luggage and backpack a[not just normal backpacks] but lots bulky bags and overnight luggage , wheelchairs cycles. and it was huge line of people waiting for 3×1 Velocity to Warrnambool!!!
After seeing this I knocked it on the head today and went to have good rest and soon I pull myself together a I will start ride the rails again.
What will happen now a broken rail at Camperdown has occurred after a mid May to Mid Aug shutdown for what was meant be a “Upgraded Warrnambool Line?
As for as I understand the want run the first Velocities DMU only 3 Cars to Warrnambool taking over the 10:13 service and it will progress like the Gippsland line which all Velocities DMU on their working time table by the 1st of November this year.
For now, As I stand by THIS quote: TBA [To Be Advised]
Another mess it seems from V/Line. It goes from bad to worse what is not going to be like when the Xmas period arrives.
The management story you wrote is very good and shows why this is a problem. They are not experienced and what are their guiding principles for dealing with these problems.
Why couldn’t they get a set from the yard at SCS to replace the set not working. I think V/line just lie and lie and lie.
Billy, I think it’s rather said when I hear from a person who seen service in the Railway in the public sector making a observation of this and commenting : It seems like DI pick for the managing roles…..
Don’t get me wrong, Diversity is okay but I am not sure if this appropriate in critical managing and decision making roles where people who have background specialised skills within the Industry maybe required ie: Railway Operational or Rolling stock design mechanical engineering etc. is involved in making decisions to operate a reliable rail transport system operator…..
To BillyK
Thanks for your comments about the Management article I wrote…..I decided to look at it and write about it to try get a deeper understanding of what happened to Vic Rail System…..
There was a time manager from overseas came to AUS,Vic to learn how we managed our rail system….but it seem they might have do the same thing overseas with other rail operators when apply this in practical sense with the newer train technologies as now all skill are outsourced so I understand….
Do we even have any local based engineers in other depts of our railways?
Or are those people, with those skills gone as they were familiar of Vic Railway condition and it seems they in ideal position to advise the overseas train manufactures of those trains what requirements it needs for newer trains design train technology to applied here in AUS in Vic.
V/Line really do hate their customers don’t they. It would have been very simple to replace the N set with another N set as several are parked and available for traffic at SCS Dudley Street.
They don’t have to report or have a meaningful relationship with their customers. They are belligerent and uncaring. If they could run buses they would. How poor must the culture be in that organisation.
Brady it sadly it seems I was not impressed of the Swan Hill being made into 3x car Vols……I think it laziness of the managers…….they 300 M on coaches alone……that Vic Rail to to v/line give them a excuse to contract coaches for rail replacements!!!
https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/parliamentary-activity/tabled-documents-database/tabled-document-details/8730
Rolling stock holding from Gov…..I think they gut the maintenance of the N set.